March 27, 2007	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 7, 1428

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

HYDERABAD, March 26: The component parties of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) demanded in demonstrations and rallies across the province on Monday reinstatement of Chief Justice of Pakistan and free and fair elections under the supervision of an interim government and an independent election commission.

The alliance had given a call of strike against in protest against the president’s action against chief justice and attacks on lawyers and media. Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) and other federal parties had also supported the ARD’s call. The leaders slammed ‘suspension’ of the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) demanded that the police officers responsible for attacks should be booked.

They condemned the arrest of political leaders and workers on the eve of protest day and called for return of Benazir Bhutto and Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif.

In Hyderabad, ARD held a big rally outside the press club, which was also participated by activists of MMA, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) and Mohajir Qaumi Movement. The rally adopted several resolutions condemning violence against lawyers and media, suspension of CJP and arrest of political leaders.

A resolution demanded that Gen Musharraf and his cabinet should resign, all cases against Benazir Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Sharif should be withdrawn and they should be allowed to return to their homeland.

Deputy opposition leader in Sindh assembly Makhdoom Jamiluzzaman, PPP leader Shagufta Jumani, MPA Zahid Bhurgari, PML-N leaders Makhdoom Shahnawaz, ANP leader Sher Zaman, MMA leader Abdul Waheed Qureshi and PTI leader Dr Abdul Samad addressed the rally.

A rally was also staged in Tando Allahyar which was addressed by Abdul Sattar Bachani, Rais Manzoor Pitafi and Imdad Ali Pitafi.

THATTA: People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP) MPA Sassui Palijo led activists of PPP, PML-N, MMA, Awami Tehrik, JSTP, JSQM, some NGO workers and people from different walks of life in Gharo town.

The protesters blocked the National Highway by staging a sit-in on the road. Central leader of PML-N Raja Zafarul Haq also spoke to the protesters on phone.

Raja Zafarul Haq and Sassui Palijo said that hasty and unwise steps like action against the CJP and onslaught on media and lawyers would lead to political change.

Processions were brought out in Mirpur Bathoro, Thatta, Daro, Sujawal and other small towns of the district. Lawyers wore black armbands and boycotted court proceedings.

SANGHAR: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI) leader Dr Khalid Mehmood Soomro led a large rally, which also staged a sit-in outside the local press club.

Mr Soomro termed the presidential order a ‘murder of justice and judiciary’ and said that Justice Iftikhar had been punished for his verdicts on Steel Mills and human rights cases.

People’s response to the strike call remained lukewarm as many shops and markets were open.

NAUSHAHRO FEROZE: Activists of Labour Party of Pakistan and Progressive Youth Front observed a token hunger strike in Moro against Gen Musharraf’s action against the CJP. Activists of Awami Tehrik also joined the protest.

KHAIRPUR: Three separate processions were brought out in the district, which went to Sukkur to join a big demonstration in front of the press club, after marching on different roads of the city.

PPP leader Amjad Shah Jilani led a rally on motorcycles and cars, which drove on different roads before leaving for Sukkur.

Another rally led by PPP leader Fida Hussain Wassan also marched on different roads before leaving for Sukkur. The third rally was taken out by PML-N.

The rallies reached Sukkur to join a demonstration outside the Sukkur press club in which several other rallies from Sukkur, Rohri, Ghotki and other small towns and villages also participated.

PPP MNA Khursheed Shah, Jam Saifullah Dharejo (Ghotki) and Ali Hyder Shah expressed solidarity with lawyers in their struggle for the supremacy of judiciary.

LARKANA: Component parties of ARD staged a joint procession on Monday demanding immediate reinstatement of the CJP.

The participants also staged a sit-in at Pakistan Chowk and Jinnahbagh gate and burnt tyres.

The leaders said that the president’s action had tarnished the country's image in the world. Besides, it had added to uncertainty, they said.

They advised the government to confess to its folly and step down after announcing elections under the supervision of an independent election commission.

Later, lawyers joined the protest after boycotting court proceedings and observed a token hunger strike.

SHIKARPUR: Activists of ARD component parties went to Larkana in rallies to participate in a big procession organised by the alliance’s central leadership.

MIRPURKHAS, March 26: Activists of ARD member parties staged a big rally in which hundreds of protesters including MPAs took part.

The rally marched on main roads of the city before reaching the press club where they staged a demonstration and blocked the Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas Road.

PPP leader Haji Noor Hassan Chandio, PML-N leader Abdul Majeed Rajput, former ministers, MNAs Pir Aftab Hussain Shah Jilani and Nawab Mohammad Yousuf Talpur condemned the president’s action and called for removal of the military regime and establishment of a caretaker government to ensure free, fair and transparent elections.

Activists of the Mirpurkhas chapter of Labour Party of Pakistan also took out a rally. The leaders criticised the generals and said they had always deprived people of their rights.

DADU: Activists of PPP and other parties staged a rally, which started from the shrine of Qalandar Lal Shahbaz and ended at the Sehwan press club where the participants also staged a demonstration.